Joanna Cherry takes swipe at Nicola Sturgeon over sexuality (and lack of real job)
Joanna Cherry, the SNP MP for Edinburgh South West, has criticised Nicola Sturgeon, taking aim at the former first minister over her sexuality and questioning whether she has held a "real job". The comments mark the latest sign of tension between Cherry and Sturgeon, who have clashed publicly in the past over gender recognition reform and the direction of the SNP, with Cherry a prominent critic of Sturgeon's policies on transgender rights.
The Daily Mail article reports the remarks as part of an ongoing rift between the two senior SNP figures, though the piece provides limited direct detail on the specific comments or the context in which they were made. Cherry, a barrister and long-serving MP, has repeatedly been at odds with Sturgeon since leaving frontline SNP roles, while Sturgeon has largely stepped back from front-line politics since resigning as first minister.
In short
- Joanna Cherry criticised Nicola Sturgeon over her sexuality and career.
- Comments highlight ongoing feud between the two senior SNP figures.
- Latest episode in Cherry and Sturgeon's long-running political dispute.
Explained simply
Joanna Cherry and Nicola Sturgeon are senior Scottish National Party figures who have had public disagreements over the party’s direction and its policies on gender recognition. Cherry is a barrister and represents Edinburgh South West in the UK Parliament; Sturgeon was Scotland’s first minister from 2014 to 2023.
The SNP is a political party that campaigns for Scottish independence and has governed Scotland for much of the period since devolution in 1999. Disputes between prominent members can affect how the party presents its policies and handles internal debate, particularly on issues such as transgender rights.